Northwest Fishing Reports

So I've got my crab traps, I've got my floats, and I've got my line. Now, the question is how best to attach the float to the line? A pretty important question as if the float doesn't stay well connected to the line, it's see ya later to the trap. Seems to me if I run the line through the hole and then back down and basically tie a loop, the foam float is liable to take a beating and sooner or later the line might just tear through.

Anybody have a suggested method for attaching the line to the float without putting too much stress on the float?

Similar question, any suggested best knots or methods for attaching line to crap trap harness ring?

:thumright :viking: THE HANGMANS

I think your making this more difficult than it needs to be. If your really paranoid run the line through the float twice and tie it off with a couple of overhand knots and make sure the tag end is knotted, see pic. It won't come undone. I like to add in a loop at the top of my floats so I can easily pick them with a boat hook.

Not such a silly question if you're "knot" familiar with knots.

The typical yellow nylon rope that most people use doesn't hold knots very well.

I tie a simple loop at the end of the rope that is large enough to fit the buoy through. Then pull the looped end up through the center of the buoy. Once the rope is through the buoy with the loop exposed, I pass the loop back over the entire buoy and cinch i down. This way I can easily remove the buoy to break down my pots for easy stacking.

If you're paranoid of the rope or knot slipping, then you can slap on a couple of zip ties to hold the knots in place.

Here is a link to how to tie fishing knots if you need some instruction on different methods.

Good luck.

BentRod wrote:Not such a silly question if you're "knot" familiar with knots.

The typical yellow nylon rope that most people use doesn't hold knots very well.

I tie a simple loop at the end of the rope that is large enough to fit the buoy through. Then pull the looped end up through the center of the buoy. Once the rope is through the buoy with the loop exposed, I pass the loop back over the entire buoy and cinch i down. This way I can easily remove the buoy to break down my pots for easy stacking.

Would a slip knot work for that or would it be too weak for the job?

I've got weighted line if that makes a difference.

I don't know about the slip knot...you could try it and see. I use an overhand knot. I'll try attaching some illustrations here...sorry for the very crude drawing. Also, if you then rotate the line after it's cinched down, so that your "loop" is on the inside of the buoy, then it's less likely to come off on it's own. I've never had one come off, even after getting run over and having the buoy cut up by the prop.

That looks like a winner and will do the trick. Thanks - much appreciated!